Marine jet drive propulsion apparatus

ABSTRACT

A marine jet drive includes a steering rudder which is mounted within a discharge nozzle housing and defines therewith a continuance of a pair of jet passageways. An outer impeller housing is provided which is sealed to the transom opening through a suitable resilient seal means to close the opening. The nozzle housing is releasably secured to the impeller housing and defines a pair of forward drive jet passageways. The rudder includes a rotor mounted adjacent the impeller bowl. The curved jet passageways direct the two jets toward each other and into engagement with the opposite side walls of the rudder. The opposite side walls with the rudder centrally located, redirects the streams which flow along the curved side surfaces rearward in parallel paths to establish forward propulsion of the boat. The rotor is rotated with the rudder deflecting and redirecting the jets. In addition, the outer nozzle housing includes reverse passageway means extending vertically through the housing and terminating in a reverse directional nozzle immediately beneath the bottom wall of the jet channels. The reverse drive jets are similarly laterally directed into engagement with a small rudder located beneath the lower unit and pivotally interconnected for positioning with the forward drive steering rudder. Valve cylinders are rotatably mounted within the drive channels and are selectively rotated to control the jet flow between the forward and reverse channels. The housing may be provided with a pivotal portion allowing the reverse channels to be swung into the main channels. The impeller and impeller wear ring assemblies are accessible through the outer end of the impeller housing without disturbing the transom seal by the simple removal of the nozzle housing from the impeller housing.

United States Patent 1191 Woodfill 1 MARINE JET DRIVE PROPULSION APPARATUS William L. Woodfill, Oshkosh, Wis. [73] Assignee: Brunswick Corporation, Skokie, Ill. [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 317,200

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmAndrus, Sceales, Starke and Sawall [57] ABSTRACT A marine jet drive includes a steering rudder which is mounted within a discharge nozzle housing and defines therewith a continuance of a pair of jet passageways. An outer impeller housing is provided which is sealed to the transom opening through a suitable resil- 1111 3,857,355 1451 Dec. 31, 1974 ient seal means to close the opening. The nozzle housing is releasably secured to the impeller housing and defines a pair of forward drive jet passageways. The rudder includes a rotor mounted adjacent the impeller bowl. The curved jet passageways direct the two jets toward each other'and into engagement with the opterminating in a reverse directional nozzle immediately beneath the bottom wall of the jet channels. The reverse drive jets are similarly laterally directed into engagement with a small rudder located beneath the lower unit and pivotally interconnected for positioning with the forward drive steering rudder. Valve cylinders are rotatably mounted within the drive channels and are selectively rotated to control the jet flow between' the forward and reverse channels. The housing may be provided with a pivotal portion allowing the reverse channels to be swung into the main channels. The impeller and impeller wear ring assemblies are accessible through the outer end of the impeller housing without disturbing the transom seal by the simple removal of the nozzle housing from the impeller housmg.

27 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTEIJ I974 3 857', 355 sum 1 or 1 PATENTEU 1 1974 3.857. 3555 saw a or 4 FATE-MED [I93 I SHEET l BF 4 FIG-" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to marine jet drive propulsion apparatus and particularly to a reaction jet type drive adapted to be mounted to the transom of a boat or the like.

For many years propeller driven outboard propulsion units have been employed for propelling of small boats. More recently, jet drive propulsion devices have been developed as an alternate propulsion means for small boats. Jet drive propulsion devices have many advantages from the standpoint of safety and maintenance.

In a jet drive, the propulsion unit is mounted within an opening in the transom with the driving engine inside of the boat and a water pick-up mounted in the bottom of the boat. Water is drawn upwardly through a screened opening by a turbine type pump unit. The velocity and pressure head of the water is significantly increased by the pump unit and discharged through a special bowl and nozzle arrangement to generate a high powered jet stream which establishes forwardmotion of the boat. A suitable gate means may be employed to deflect the jet stream down and forward toward the boat to thereby effect a reverse or backward movement of the boat. Steering is generally accomplished by deflection of the jet stream laterally from side to side.

Generally, in a jet drive the water jet emitted from the back of the boat does not create a force which would injure a person and thus eliminates the dangers associated with the conventional rotating propellers with respect to personnel which may accidentally be in the area of the drive. Jet drive apparatus does not require any significant underwater propellers, rudders and the like tending to create a drag on the boat movement. This also eliminates the danger of fowling the undergear on rocks and similar underwater debris. In addition, with the lack of any depending protrusions of any significance, operation is permitted in very shallow drafts.

Although various jet marine drives have been developed, certain difficulties have been encountered in the provision of and development of a highly efficient, streamlined and compact unit.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is particularly directed to an improved jet drive control apparatus which is mounted aft of the transom with stream directing means located within the jet unit. Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the stream or jet unit includes a specially formed dividing and steering rudder means which is mounted within the discharge nozzle means and defines therewith a continuance of a pair of jets or streams. The dividing and steering ruddermeans is specially constructed in combination with the incoming flow passageways to predirect the streams toward each other and then outwardly in parallel relation aft of the discharge nozzle means. When the rudder means is turned, the one jet is correspondingly directed to either port or starboard while the second jet is pre-directed in essentially the same direction without deflection by the rudder. This permits increased directional efficiency and provides maneuverability even at relatively slow speeds.

Further, internal valving means are provided in accordance with a further aspectof the invention within the jet housing for selectively diverting the water from the main jet channels and downwardly through reverse directional channels for redirecting of the water forwardly of the boat to efffect a reverse movement of the boat. The reverse channels extend along one wall of the main channel. Valve means selectively divert flow from the main channels to the reverse shannels. All of the controls can be placed within the impeller and jet housing where they are not only out of sight, but are protected from mechanical damage and'the like as well as being protected from the surrounding environment. This construction creates a very compact and streamlined outer jet control unit immediately aft of the transom.

In accordance with a particularly practical and novel construction of the present invention, an outer impeller housing is provided which is sealed to the transom opening through a suitable resilient seal means to close the opening. An outer nozzle or control housing is releasably secured to the impeller. housing and defines the pair of forward drive jet passageways or channels in closely spaced lateral placement. The rudder is pivotally mounted as a part of the discharge nozzles from the passageways and forms a common wall therebetween. The pair of jet are defined by curved passageways in the housing which direct the two jets toward each other and into engagement with the opposite side walls of the rudder. The opposite side walls of the rudder, in turn, are similarly curved to redirect the streams which flow along the curved side surfaces with a lockon effect and are directed into rearward parallel paths to establish forward propulsion of the boat. Thecurved side walls permit the smooth deflection and efficient redirection of the streams while permitting ready positioning of the rudder, and thereby producing optimum maneuverability and the like.

In addition, the outer control housing includes a pair of reversepassageways extending laterally from each side of the drive jet channels with the lower ends terminating in a pair of reverse directional nozzles immediately beneath the bottom wall of the bet channels. The reverse drive jets are similarly laterally directed into engagement with a small rudder located beneath the lower unit and pivotally interconnected for positioning with the forward'drive steering rudder. A pair of elongated valve cylinders are rotatably mounted within the drive channels and are selectively rotated to control the jet flow between the forward drive nozzles and the reverse drive channels and nozzles. The cylindrical valve members may be rotatably mounted within the passageways with the upper or lower ends interconnected by a suitable drive for simultaneous and corresponding positioning of the two valve members in the respective channels. Alternatively, the housing may be provided with a pivotal portion allowing the reverse channels to be swung to the main channels.

In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, the impeller housing is provided with a dividing line aft of a transom, with the outermost end of the impeller housing integrally formed with the nozzle housing. When it is necessary to provide any maintenance with respect to the impeller, the other housing can be removed to permit direct access to the impeller assembly without disturbing the transom seal. The pump unit is constructed without an external end thrust bearing for the impeller and consequently it is merely necessary to remove a single nut for replacement of the impeller and wear ring, after the removal of the rear section of the impeller housing.

The present invention has been found to provide a very reliable and highly satisfactory jet unit construction while maintaining a high degree of efficiency in the drive and a high degree of maneuverability at various operating speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed, as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description of the illustrated embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a marine propulsion unit constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted within a boat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the center line of the jet drive unit and showing the inter connection of the drive system;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the jet drive unit;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken generally on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 through the rear impeller housing and the jet control unit; 5

FIG. 6 is a reduced view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the steering control;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the rear mounted section, with i a top cover removed;

on line l2-l2 of FIG. 11. A

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a marine propulsion unit 1 is mounted within a boat 2, of which only a fragmentary portion is shown. The propulsion unit I includes a suitable power source, such as an internal-combustion engine 3 connected to a drive pump unit 4 which extends through an opening 5 in the boat transom 6. The pump unit 4 has an inlet opening 7 in the lower wall portion of the boat 2 and is adapted to draw water upwardly through the boat, pressurizes the water and delivers the pressurized water through a discharge or jet control unit 8 mounted aft of the transom and interconnected to and forming a part of the pump unit 4. A remote steering control includes a shift lever 9 connected to a shifting cable l0-for selecting forward and reverse movement and a steering wheel 11 connected by a steering cable 12 for turning laterally to the right or left side, as more fully developed hereinafter.

The precise construction of the pump valve 4 may be of any suitable design which will transfer the necessary large volume of water, greatly increase its momentum, and discharge such water through the rear control unit 8 which extends from the aft end of the boat outwardly generally on the longitudinal center line of the boat.

In a preferred construction, the pump is a centrifugal mixed-flow construction having an inner or forward housing 13 mounted forwardly of the transom and projecting rearwardly through the transom opening. The housing 13 is secured to the control unit 8 as hereinafter described, to permit rapid and convenient access to the interior of a housing 13. A pump impeller 14 is rotatably mounted within the forward housing section 13 and is secured to a drive shaft 15 by a suitable clamping nut 15a or the like. The impeller 14 is therefore readily accessible from the rearward facing end of the housing 13. A pump wear ring 16 is also provided within the housing 13 adjacent the impeller and is accessible by removing the nut 15a from the shaft and the impeller 14.

A rearward impeller housing 17 is integrally formed with control unit 8. and includes a releasably attached multiple stator vane unit 18 for re-directing the increased momentum water rearwardly through a pair of jet passageways or channels 19 and 20 terminating in exit nozzles in the outermost end of the control unit 8. The rear section and the inner section have abutting planar mounting flange portions as at 21 defining a parting line. The housing sections 13 and 17 are releasably interconnected as by suitably mounted bolts 22 such that access to the impeller 14 and the wear ring 16 is readily provided by merely unbolting the housing 17 from the pump housing 13. g

The transom opening 5 is sealed by a suitable resilient sealing means 23 between the transom 6 and the housing 13. The illustrated seal is specially constructed in accordance with the teaching of my copending application entitled MARINE DRIVE TRANSOM SEAL APPARATUS which was filed on the same day as this application and is assigned to a common assignee. Generally, the seal means 23 includes a relatively large resilient member 24 clamped against the pump housing 13. As the particular seal construction does not form a part of the subject matter of the present invention claimed herein, no further description thereof is given.

The present invention is particularly directed to the rear control unit 8 mounted aft of the transom and a preferred construction is illustrated in FIGS. 2-6.

More particularly, the rear housing 17 of the control unit 8 is a generally rectangular housing having a central vertical dividing wall 25 projecting partially rearwardly from the plurality of stator vane unit 18 and defining the pair of distinct and separate similar flow passageways l9 and 20, each of which is generally rectangular in cross section with a major vertical dimension and a minor horizontal dimension.

The wall 25 includes a center frustoconical portion I and integral upper and lower tapered extensions 26 and 27 which have'a width corresponding to the rearward width of the center wall portion and which project vertically therefrom. The wall 25 and extensions 26 and 27 separate the water leaving the stator vane unit 18 and direct it into the two channels 19 and 20. The outer bowl walls 28 and 29 curve inwardly and rearwardly to a generally rectangular nozzle opening 30. The impeller bowl wall and the opposite walls of the passageways are thus similar curved walls such that the two passageways extend rearwardly and inwardly toward each other, to define a pair of jets 31 and 32 as most clearly shown in FIG. 5. The outer ends of the passageways merge into a rear nozzle portion of the housing 17. A centrally mounted rudder 33 forming a common central wall within such mozzle opening defines a pair of nozzle or discharge openings from which the two jets 31 and 32 are emitted. The rudder 33 includes a rotor 34 which is a generally cylindrical member rotatably mounted within a recess 35 in the central impeller wall 25. A flat wall is integrally formed to the periphery of a rotor 34 and projects therefrom centrally through opening 30.

The rotor 34 and planar rudder 33 have planar end surfaces bearing on corresponding planar top and bottom walls of the forward drive nozzle opening 30 as at 37 and 38. A relatively accurate and close fit may be provided by, for example, resilient end pieces 33a to maintain essentially complete division of flow in the jets 31 and 32 and therefore accurate control and a high degree of maneuverability in steering control. The rotor 34 and rudder 33 are joined with curved walls 39 such that the water jet flow from the passageways 19 and into the nozzles is along the cylindrical surface of the rotor 34, the curved guide walls 39 to the rearwardly directed generally planar wall of rudder 33. The back of housing 17 at the nozzle sections includes outwardly flared walls 40 and 41 which extend from opening 30 and thus in alignment with the curved connection 38 of the rudder 33 to the cylindrical rotor 34. Thus, with the rudder 33 located centrally of the opening 30, as shown in full line in FIG. 5, the jets 31 and 32 are predirected toward each other and toward the center with both streams being gradually deflected by the curved interconnecting wall portions 39, to define a pair of rearwardly deflected jets. Thus, the water flowing along the rudder surface is held thereto by differential pressures and is thus parallel to the surface of the rudder.

Steering is effected by rotation of the rotor 34 and attached rudder 33 to deflect one of the streams 31 or 32, port or starboard, in accordance with the desired directional movement, and permitting the second stream or jet to thereby discharge in the predirected line of motion. This is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6. This method of steering has been found to provide a very desirable steering characteristic producing a high degree of maneuverability even at slow speeds.

The rotor 34 is mounted for selective rotation on a shaft 42 which is journaled in the upper and lower walls of housing 17 as at 43 and 44. A lever 45 is secured to shaft 42 and projects laterally into alignment with a steering rod 46. A pin and slot coupling 47 connect the rod 46 and lever 45 to establish rotation oflever 45 and attached rotor 34 in response to reciprocal movement of rod 46. The rod 46 projects through the housings 17 and I3 and is part of or suitably coupled to the steering cable 12 for positioning in accordance with position of wheel 11.

To effect a reverse directional movement of the boat 2, internal reversing water passageways or channels 48 and 49 are formed within the housing 17 immediately adjacent to the outer walls of the passageways l9 and 20. The reverse passageways, as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 Y

and 9, are located along the complete depth of the main flow passageways l9 and 20. The lower ends of passageways-48 and 49 extend downwardly below the bottom wall of passageways 19 and 20 into reverse noz- ,zles 50 and 51, which are integrally formed with the bottom of the housing. The nozzles 50 and 51 direct the flow from the reverse channels in a reverse direction toward the forward part of the boat 2. The nozzles 50 and 51 are angularly oriented toward each other to provide a predirection of the reverse jets 52 and 53 toward each other and into engagement with a small rudder 54 mounted beneath the bottom wall and generally centrally of the reverse nozzles. The reverse rudder 54 is also a flat plate member integrally joined through curved walls 54A with a cylinder rotor 55 located centrally ofthe two nozzles 50 and 51 and adjacent the rearwardmost edges thereof..Rotor 55 is connected to an extension of the main rotor shaft 42 and thus is 'correspondingly positioned from the steering wheel 11. The predirected jets 52 and 53 are therefore redirected, similar to that of the main jets for steering in the reverse direction. In addition, the bottom wall of the housing 17 includes a recessed well 56 with an outer inclined wall such that the reversing jets 52 and 53, as

they move from the rudder wall, engage the inclined wall and are directed downwardly and forwardly of the boat.

The reverse channels 48 and 49 are similarly and selectively connected to the adjacent main and forward jet passageways 19 and 20 through similar cylinder valves 57 and 58 mounted in the vertical wall openings 59 and 60 of the main passageways. The valve structure 57 for the one passageway 19 is described in detail with corresponding elements of the opposite valve structure identified by corresponding primed numbers.

The valve 57 includes closure member 61 which is generally a portion of a cylinder and is shaped to define a flat sealing face 62 and an integral curved back wall 63. In addition, opposite vertical edges of the openings 59 to the reverse channel passageway 48 are curved to provide a close fit with the adjacent curved .back wall 63 of the closure member 61. The member 61 is formed with end cylindrical supports 64 and 65 rotatably journaled in the upper and lower wallsof the housing 17 for selective positioning between the full-line position shown in which the opening to the reverse channels is closed and the dotted-line position in which the forward drive passageways are closed at the opening 30 and the reverse channel 48 is fully coupled to the jet passageways 19. The valve member 61 can be placed intermediate these extreme positions and simultaneously provide partial forward and reverse thrust to theboat.

The valve 57 includes a positioning shaft 68 which projects upwardly from the upper bearing 65 and the upper wall of the housing 17. A suitable drive connection shown as a linkage 69 interconnects the opposite shaft 68' for positioning from the shift cable 10. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a shift lever 70 is connected to the shaft 63. The shift lever 70 is coupled through a lost-motion connection 71 to a shift rod 72 which extends through the housings 13 and 17. The shift cable 10 is suitably connected to the reciprocably mounted rod 72. The reciprocal motion of the shift rod 72 causes pivoting of the lever 70 which rotates the valve member 68, and through the coupling linkage 69 establishes positioning of the valve member 68. In this manner, the valves 57 and 58 are selectively placed in similar counter rotated positions to open and close the forward reverse channels and provide a modulated division of the high-velocity water between the forward maintains a compact unit aft of the transom, with the elements not only out'of sight but protected from mechanicai harm.

Thus, in the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the operation of the engines pump 4 establishes a high-velocity water flow through the two main jet passageways 19 and20 with the jets 31 and 32 directed toward each other and into engagement with the rudder 33. Movement of the steering wheel 11 causes a corresponding rotation of the rotor 34- and rudder 33, with a corresponding deflection of the jets 31 and 32 to one side or the other. The smooth contoured configuration of the rotor and rudder along with the predirection concept provide a very efficient movement of the jets to maintain a reliable and high degree of. maneuverability. 1

To shift between forward or reverse, or to modulate the drive therebetween, the operator merely actuates the forward-reverse lever 9 and thereby correspondingly positions the valves 57 and 58 to selectively open the inlet to the reverse channels 48 and 49. When the lever 9 is pushed to a full reverse position, the valve closure members 61 and 61 move to the dotted-line position, off the corresponding forward drive passageways and redirect essentially all of the flow into the reverse channels 48 and 49. Jets 52 and 53 are formed and directed toward each other and into engagement with the reverse control rudder 54 for a corresponding controlled movement of the boat 2.

The predirected jets, particularly as shown, provide a very efficient steering mechanism while maintaining a very compact and pleasing appearance of a jet outboard drive unit.

Further, the split housing line provided between the rearward projecting impeller housing 13 and the housing 17, in combination with the drive shaft support, permit very convenient servicing and maintenance of the pump impeller 14 and wear rings which are two of the greatest sources for service in jet units. Thus, there is no external thrust bearing and the system is readily accessible by merely releasing the clamping bolts and removing the housing 17 from housing 13. Then it is merely necessary to remove a single nut to replace the impeller and/or wear ring. The stator vane unit 18 may also be conveniently replaced in this manner. The accessibleness of these parts is a very significant advantage from a practical standpoint in connection with jet propulsion devices and the like.-

Other methods can, within the broadest aspect of the present invention, be employed to selectively divert the fluid from the forward drive position into reverse drive channels. For example, an embodiment is shown in FIG. 10 having a rear housing construction 74 similar to that of the first embodiment. in FIG. 10, however, the reverse flow channels 75 and 76 are defined by outer pivotally-mounted housing walls 77 and 78 for selective positioning into the main flow channels 79 and 80. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10, the forward drive system is similar to that shown in FIGS. l-7. However, the reverse drive channel walls 77 and 78 are similarlshaped members extended between the upper and lower walls of the housing 74, and wall 77 is particularly described.

The wall 77 is hinged to the outer wall defining the main flow passageway 79, as by a flexible pivot plate 81 having a cylinder secured to a cylinder slot in the exterior of the impeller wall and a hinge similar cylinder 82 connected to the vertical edge of the wall 77. The wall 77 extends rearwardly from the hinge connection and then inwardly to define a hook-type construction terminating in adiverting and sealing wall 83. The wall 77 is positioned for full forward drive position with the edge in the plane of the forward jet passageway 79 to form a continuous inner wall and in particular an extension of the passageway wall to the forward drive nozzle. The shift mechanism couples walls 77 and 78and is operable in a reverse drive position to pivot the walls inwardly such that the edge 83 moves into the passageway and diverts a proportionate part of the flow from the forward drive passageway and directs the flow inwardly and backwardly through the reverse channel. in the extreme position, the inner wall or edge 83 engages the rotor and diverts 'all flow into the reverse passageway.

A furthermodification employing a single reverse jet ,channel is shown in FIGS.'11 and 12. In this embodiment of the invention, a rudder 84 for directing the jets 85 and 86 is formed as a hollow member having a rear inlet opening 87. The rudder 84 includes a rotor rotatably mounted in spaced relation to the opposed wall 88 of the recess in the flow dividing housing wall 89. The edge spaces between the wall 89 and the rudder define entrance openings 90 and 91 from the jet passageways into the cross-passage 92 and through rear rudder opening 87.into the hollow rudder 84. The lower end of the rudder includes a nozzle 93 for redirecting the flow as areverse jet 94.

A pair of valve members are similarly constructed and located to opposite sides of the rudder 84 and selectively open and close the entrance into the crosspassageway. Thus, the valve members may be formed andmounted generally in the same manner as in the first embodiment. in a full-line position shown in FIG.

12, the valve member 95 closes off the entrance opening 90 to the reverse passageway. In the rotated dottedline position, the valve member 95 closes off the forward jet passageways 85 and redirects the water laterally into the cross-passageway and into the rudder opening 92. The water then flows downwardly through the hollow rudder and is directed outwardly of or toward the front of the boat by a bottom nozzle 93 as the reverse jet 94. Steering is effected by rotating of the rudder 84 and thereby directly changing the directional flow of the single-reverse jet 94. In the first and third embodiments shown and described above, the entrance to the reverse jet passageway is subjected to high pressure flow during the forward drive setting. Although reasonably effective sealing is provided, somewhat greater leak-age may be encountered than in the second embodiment of FIG. 10.

Thus, various means can be employed for redirecting theflow to establish a reverse boat motion while maintaining the desirable forward drive operation of the dual jet system of the present invention.

The present hydraulic jet propulsion system maintains all of the advantages associated with the jet drive of boats and the like while permitting a high degree of maneuverability as well as a construction which is readily serviced and maintained and is adapted to modern high-volume production.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

l. A directional thrust control system for a jet propulsion means for propelling of a marine device comprising a housing means having a central wall and outer walls forming a pair of separate jet nozzle means and establishing a pair of individual jets, said central wall preventing lateral flow from the one jet nozzle means to the opposite jet nozzle means and having a common directional control means for saidpair of individual jets forming a portion of said central wall including the opposite inner walls of said central wall, said nozzle means having angularly oriented wall means angularly directing said individual jet streams toward each other and into engagement with the inner walls of said control means, said control means being rotatably mounted for selective angular orientation between said jets and including an inner portion movable to maintain said central wall and the separate jet nozzle means with the inner walls being angularly reoriented whereby said individual jets are individually maintained for all positions of said control means and move along the correspohding surface of the control means and are redirected as relatively rectilinear straight line jets with the control means located in a first position therebetween, and rotation of said control means from said first position causing a complete one of the jets to increasingly deflect laterally as a result of engagement with the control means while the opposite complete jet is allowed to exit generally increasingly closer to the predirected line.

2. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 wherein said control means includes similarly curved surfaces defining extensions of the jet passageways for directing of such flow and curving into a relativelyplanar inner surface extending in the direction of the desired movement.

3. The directional control system of claim 1 including a pair of reverse jet channels connected-to the jet passageways upstream of said control means terminating in reverse nozzles beneath the jet passageway and establishing reverse jets directed toward each other, a reverse control means located between said reverse jets and coupled to the first control means to control the reverse jets in accordance with the pivotal movement of the reverse control means.

4. The directional thrust control system of claim 3 wherein said reverse channels include outer wall portions of the jet passageway means, each of said wall portions being generally J-shaped members extending rearwardly with the hook portion extending inwardly and forming a wall of the passageway, said reverse jet channel being pivotally mounted to the housing section and selectively pivoted inwardly into said jet passageway whereby to selectively divert the jet into the channel.

5. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 wherein said control means is hollow and includes an inner apex and a lower reverse jet nozzle projecting below the passageway means from said control means, and valved coupling openings connecting the inner end of the control means to said passageway means.

6. A directional thrust control system for a jet propulsion means for propelling of a marine device comprising a housing section having an inner wall means defining a pair of jet passageways having inlet means for receiving a high volume large momentum liquid mass and terminating in a pair of adjacent nozzles establishing a pair of individually controlled jets, a directional control means mounted between said control nozzles and projecting rearwardly from said passageways through said nozzles and forming an inner wall of the nozzles and maintaining said nozzles and jets separate of each other for all positions of said control means, said passageways being angularly oriented to direct said individual jets toward each other along a predirected line of travel and into engagement with said control means, saidcontrol means being rotatably mounted for selectively angular orientation and including inner surfaces corresponding to the shape of the water passageways for-directing of such flow into relatively planar rear outer surfaces extending in the direction of the desired straight line movement whereby said individual jets move along the corresponding surface of the control means and are redirected as relatively rectilinear straight line .jets with the control means causing one of the jets to deflect laterally as a result of engagement with the planar surface of the control means while the opposite jet is allowed to exit generally along the opposite surface and the predirected line.

7. The directional thrust control system of claim'6 wherein said housing section is adapted to be mounted within a boat transom, a control linkage is disposed within said housing an connected between said control means and a directional control lever means extending through said section housing to maintain enclosure of said directional control linkage.

8. The directional thrust control system of claim 7 having reverse jet nozzle means including connecting channel means to said jet passageway means, valve means for selectively diverting flow from said jet passageways to said channel means, a coupling means interconnecting said valve means, a directional control lever coupled to said coupling means for selectively positioning of said valve means, and said directional control lever including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said directional control mechanism.

9. The thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said housing section includes a centrally located impeller bowl member located forwardly of the nozzle means and defining the inner wall of the jet passageways and having an outer jet passageway wall, said impeller bowl member having a generally cylindrical vertical recess in the outermost portion thereof, said controlmeans including a cylindrical rotor portion rotatably mounted within said cylindrical recess and of a diameter generally to define a continuation of the passageway, said control means including a planar wall portion extending radially from the supporting rotor portion.

10. The thrust control system of claim 9 having a steering mechanism including a means coupled to the rotor portion for selectively pivoting of said planar wall portion froma centrally located position with respect .to said passageways to effect diverting of said jet ing jet passageways in the outer jet passageway walls,

a valve member having a wall corresponding to the opening to said reverse jet channels, said valve members being rotatably mounted between a position with said wall aligned with the passageway and forming a part of the passageway wall and a second position normal to said passageway and extending across the jet passageway adjacent the downstream end of said channel to divert the jet into said reverse channel, and a pair 11. The thrust control system of claim wherein said reverse nozzles are angularly oriented to direct the reverse jets toward each other and toward the forward end of the propulsion unit,'a control means located centrally of said nozzles and constructed to redirect said inwardly directed jets as a pair of parallel forwardly directed jets, said reverse control means being rotatable to correspondingly divert one of said jets to one side while allowing essentially unrestricted flow of said predirected opposite jet thereby effecting steering of the propulsion means in a reverse motion direction.

.12. The thrust control system of claim 10 wherein a reversing control means is coupled for selectively positioning of said valve means, said reversing control means including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said re- -versing control means, a rotor control linkage disposed within said housing and connected to a directional control lever means extending through said rear section housing and said impeller section to maintain enclosure of said rotor control linkage.

13. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said pair of jet nozzles are constructed to form said pair of individually controlled jets'as similar rectangular cross-section jets with flat top and bottom walls, said control means having flat end surfaces mounted between said control nozzles with'said flat end surfaces in close spacing to said top and bottom walls to separate said jet passagewaysadjacent said control means. 1

14. The directional thrust control system of claim 13 wherein said control means includes a cylindrical rotor and a rear plate-like wall projecting radially from said rotor and including generally smooth direction'changing surfaces connecting the rotor and the wall to define extensions of the water passageways for smoothly directing of the jet flow, said rotor being adjustable from a central portion with the wall extending in the direction of the desired movement whereby the individual jets moving along the corresponding surface of the rotor and wall are redirected as relatively parallel rectilinear straight line jets to an angular turning orientation.

15. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said control means and housing section having upper and lower flat adjacent walls with the walls of the control means closely spaced from the housing walls to essentially completely isolate the two jets to the opposite sides of the control means.

16. The directional thrust control system of claim 6,

including a forward impeller housing section and a rear impeller housing section interconnected on a dividing line, said forward impeller housing section having a rear central opening and an impeller mounting means located inwardly from said dividing line, said pump means being supported within said forward impeller housing section, whereby removal of said rear impeller housing section permits direct access thereto for servicing and maintenance.

17. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 including a forward impeller housing section and a rear impeller housing section interconnected on a generally vertical dividing line, said forward impeller housing section having a rear central opening and an impeller mounting means located inwardly from said dividing line, a pump means being supported within said forward impeller housing section and having an impeller attachment means and a .wear ring means accessible directly through said opening of said forward housing section, whereby removal of said rear impeller housing section permits direct access thereto for servicing and maintenance of the impeller and wear means ring.

18. The directional thrust control system of claim 17 wherein said rear impeller-nozzle housing section in cludes a centrally located stator vane support member defining the inner wall of the jet passageways and having an outer jet passageway wall and having an outer housing wall spaced from outer jet passageway wall, said impeller bowl member having a generally cylindrical vertical recess in the outermost portion thereof, said control means including a cylindrical rotor portion rotatably mounted within said cylindrical recess and of a diameter generally to define a continuation of the passageway, said control means including a planar wall portion extending radially from the supporting rotor portion, a steering mechanismincluding a means coupled to the rotor for selectively pivoting of said planar wall portion from a centrally located position with respect to said passageways to effect diverting of said jet streams for steering, a pair of verticallyextending reverse jet channels formed in the housing adjacent the terminal end of said passageways and having said channels being formed between the outer jet passageway walls and the outer wall of the housing and having corresponding openings inthe corresponding jet passageways in the outer jet passageway walls, a valve member having a planar valve wall corresponding to the opening to said reverse jet channels, said valve members being rotatably mounted between a position with said planar valve wall aligned with the passageway and forming a part of the passageway wall and a second position normal to said passageway and extending across the passageway adjacent the downstream end of said channel to divert the jet into said reverse channel, a pair of reverse nozzles connected in communication with the lower end of said channels and being angularly oriented to direct the reverse jets toward each other and toward the forward end of the propulsion unit, a reverse control member located centrally of said nozzles and constructed to redirect said inwardly directed jets as a pair of parallel forwardly-directed jets, said reverse control member being rotatable to correspondingly divert one of said jets to one side while allowing essentially unrestricted flow of said predirected opposite jet thereby effecting steering of the propulsion means in a reverse motion direction.

19. The directional thrust control system wherein a coupling means connects said valve means, a directional control lever coupled to said coupling means for selectively positioning of said valve means between a full open and a full closed position, said directional control means including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said directional control mechanism, a rotor control linkage disposed within said housing sections and connected to a directional control lever means extending through said rear housing impeller section to maintain enclosure of said rotor control linkage.

20. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein internal reverse jet chamber means extending vertically of the housing along the jet passageways and opening to said two jet passageways upstream of said rudder, the lower end of said housing having reverse nozzle means communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber means, a valve means defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageways adjacent the control means, said valve means being selectively positioned to define a portion of said passageways for establishing a forward drive and being rotatable into said jet passageways to the downstream end of said wall portion of said jet passageways to redirect said jets laterally into communication with said chamber means to thereby effect a reverse jet flow with a corresponding reverse thrust. I

21. The directional thrust control system of claim wherein said reverse nozzle means including a pair of nozzles establishing angularly oriented reverse jets directed toward each other along predetermined paths, a reverse control means located between a first position between said reverse jets for redirecting said jets as a pair of parallel jets and a second position deflecting one of said reverse jets and allowing the opposite reverse jets to move along said pre-direction path, said reverse control means having a control rotor and a planar projecting wall member joined to the rotor by curved walls for smoothly directing of said jets.

22. The thrust control system of claim 21 wherein reverse nozzle means includes an inverted well in the lower housing wall with an inclined forward wall, said control means including a planar portion having an edge corresponding to and closely spaced to the upper wall of the inverted well.

23. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 6 wherein said directional control means includes a hollow member having an internal chamber extending vertically of the housing and having a rear opening located generally between said two jet passageways, the lower end of said housing having reverse nozzle means communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber, a valve means located to the opposite sides of said 14 directional control means and defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageway adjacent the control means, said valvemeans being selectively positioned to define a wall of said passageways for establishing a forward drive and being rotatable into said jet passageways to the downstream of said wall portion of said jet passageways to redirect said jets laterally into communication with said hollow member to thereby effect a reverse jet flow with a corresponding reverse thrust.

24. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control means has a rotor with said rear opening formed in the back wall thereof, the lower noz-' zle means having a pair of oppositely-directed nozzles communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber, said valve means being located to the opposite sides of said rotor and defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageway adjacent the rotor, a reverse directional control member rotatably journaled between said pair of nozzles for controlling the relative direction of said reverse jets.

25. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 6 including a pair of reverse jet channel members pivotally mounted to said housing section and including an inner wall defining the terminal portion of said jet passageways, said reverse channel members each being generally a .I-shaped member and extending outwardly with the hook portion extending inwardly and defining an inner wall of one of said jet passageways opposite the control means, said reverse jet channel being pivotally mounted to the housing section and selectively pivoted inwardly into said jet passageway whereby to selectively divert the corresponding jet into the channel, a reverse nozzle connected to the lower end of the housing section and communicating with the said reverse jet channel whereby a reverse jet is established'in accordance with the pivotal movement of the reverse jet channel position. I

26. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 25 wherein said pairs of reverse jet channel. members are pivotally mounted to said housing section by generally flexible straplike members to permit rotational and lateral movement of said reverse channel members in the I reverse control member located centrally of said nozzles to selectively redirect said reverse jets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 857 355 V Dated December 31 1974 Inventor(s) William L. WOOdfill It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 1, cancel "valve" and substitute therefor ---unit---, column 10, line 38, cancel "an" and substitute therefor ---and--, column 10, line 44, cancel "passageway means" and substitute therefor ---passageways", column 13, line 1, after "control system" insert ---of claim l8---, column 14, line 42, cancel "in" and substitute therefor ---into---.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks )RM powso (m'ss) USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 W 0.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-584. 

1. A directional thrust control system for a jet propulsion means for propelling of a marine device comprising a housing means having a central wall and outer walls forming a pair of separate jet nozzle means and establishing a pair of individual jets, said central wall preventing lateral flow from the one jet nozzle means to the opposite jet nozzle means and having a common directional control means for said pair of individual jets forming a portion of said central wall including the opposite inner walls of said central wall, said nozzle means having angularly oriented wall means angularly directing said individual jet streams toward each other and into engagement with the inner walls of said control means, said control means being rotatably mounted for selective angular orientation between said jets and including an inner portion movable to maintain said central wall and the separate jet nozzle means with the inner walls being angularly reoriented whereby said individual jets are individually maintained for all positions of said control means and move along the corresponding surface of the control means and are redirected as relatively rectilinear straight line jets with the control means located in a first position therebetween, and rotation of said control means from said first position causing a complete one of the jets to increasingly deflect laterally as a result of engagement with the control means while the opposite complete jet is allowed to exit generally increasingly closer to the predirected line.
 2. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 wherein said control means includes similarly curved surfaces defining extensions of the jet passageways for directing of such flow and curving into a relatively planar inner surface extending in the direction of the desired movement.
 3. The directional control system of claim 1 including a pair of reverse jet channels connected to the jet passageways upstream of said control means terminating in reverse nozzles beneath the jet passageway and establishing reverse jets directed toward each other, a reverse control means located between said reverse jets and coupled to the first control means to control the reverse jets in accordance with the pivotal movement of the reverse control means.
 4. The directional thrust control system of claim 3 wherein said reverse channels include outer wall portions of the jet passageway means, each of said wall portions being generally J-shaped members extending rearwardly with the hook portion extending inwardly and forming a wall of the passageway, said reverse jet channel being pivotally mounted to the housing section and selectively pivoted inwardly into said jet passageway whereby to selectively divert the jet into the channel.
 5. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 wherein said control means is hollow and includes an inner apex and a lower reverse jet nozzle projecting below the passageway means from said control means, and valved coupling openings connecting the inner end of the control means to said passageway means.
 6. A directional thrust control system for a jet propulsion means for propelling of a marine device comprising a housing section having an inner wall means defining a pair of jet passageways having inlet means for receiving a high volume large momentum liquid mass and terminating in a pair of adjacent nozzles establishing a pair of individually controlled jets, a directional control means mounted between said control nozzles and projecting rearwardly from said passageways through said nozzles and forming an inner wall of the nozzles and maintaining said nozzles and jets separate of each other for all positions of said control means, said passageways being angularly oriented to direct said individual jets toward each other along a predirected line of travel and into engagement with said control means, said control means being rotatably mounted for selectively angular orientation and including inner surfaces corresponding to the shape of the water passageways for directing of such flow into relatively planar rear outer surfaces extending in the direction of the desired straight line movement whereby said individual jets move along the corresponding surface of the control means and are redirected as relatively rectilinear straight line jets with the control means causing one of the jets to deflect laterally as a result of engagement with the planar surface of the control means while the opposite jet is allowed to exit generally along the opposite surface and the predirected line.
 7. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said housing section is adapted to be mounted within a boat transom, a control linkage is disposed within said housing an connected between said control means and a directional control lever means extending through said section housing to maintain enclosure of said directional control linkage.
 8. The directional thrust control system of claim 7 having reverse jet nozzle means including connecting channel means to said jet passageway means, valve means for selectively diverting flow from said jet passageways to said channel means, a coupling means interconnecting said valve means, a directional control lever coupled to said coupling means for selectively positioning of said valve means, and said directional control lever including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said directional control mechanism.
 9. The thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said housing section includes a centrally located impeller bowl member located forwardly of the nozzle means and defining the inner wall of the jet passageways and having an outer jet passageway wall, said impeller bowl member having a generally cylindrical vertical recess in the outermost portion thereof, said control means including a cylindrical rotor portion rotatably mounted withIn said cylindrical recess and of a diameter generally to define a continuation of the passageway, said control means including a planar wall portion extending radially from the supporting rotor portion.
 10. The thrust control system of claim 9 having a steering mechanism including a means coupled to the rotor portion for selectively pivoting of said planar wall portion from a centrally located position with respect to said passageways to effect diverting of said jet streams for steering, a pair of vertically extending reverse jet channel means formed in the housing section adjacent the terminal end of said passageways and having corresponding channel openings to the corresponding jet passageways in the outer jet passageway walls, a valve member having a wall corresponding to the opening to said reverse jet channels, said valve members being rotatably mounted between a position with said wall aligned with the passageway and forming a part of the passageway wall and a second position normal to said passageway and extending across the jet passageway adjacent the downstream end of said channel to divert the jet into said reverse channel, and a pair of reverse nozzles connected in communication with the lower end of said channel means.
 11. The thrust control system of claim 10 wherein said reverse nozzles are angularly oriented to direct the reverse jets toward each other and toward the forward end of the propulsion unit, a control means located centrally of said nozzles and constructed to redirect said inwardly directed jets as a pair of parallel forwardly directed jets, said reverse control means being rotatable to correspondingly divert one of said jets to one side while allowing essentially unrestricted flow of said predirected opposite jet thereby effecting steering of the propulsion means in a reverse motion direction.
 12. The thrust control system of claim 10 wherein a reversing control means is coupled for selectively positioning of said valve means, said reversing control means including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said reversing control means, a rotor control linkage disposed within said housing and connected to a directional control lever means extending through said rear section housing and said impeller section to maintain enclosure of said rotor control linkage.
 13. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said pair of jet nozzles are constructed to form said pair of individually controlled jets as similar rectangular cross-section jets with flat top and bottom walls, said control means having flat end surfaces mounted between said control nozzles with said flat end surfaces in close spacing to said top and bottom walls to separate said jet passageways adjacent said control means.
 14. The directional thrust control system of claim 13 wherein said control means includes a cylindrical rotor and a rear plate-like wall projecting radially from said rotor and including generally smooth direction changing surfaces connecting the rotor and the wall to define extensions of the water passageways for smoothly directing of the jet flow, said rotor being adjustable from a central portion with the wall extending in the direction of the desired movement whereby the individual jets moving along the corresponding surface of the rotor and wall are redirected as relatively parallel rectilinear straight line jets to an angular turning orientation.
 15. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein said control means and housing section having upper and lower flat adjacent walls with the walls of the control means closely spaced from the housing walls to essentially completely isolate the two jets to the opposite sides of the control means.
 16. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 including a forward impeller housing section and a rear impeller housing section interconnected on a dividing line, said forward impeller housing section having a rear central opening and an impeller mOunting means located inwardly from said dividing line, said pump means being supported within said forward impeller housing section, whereby removal of said rear impeller housing section permits direct access thereto for servicing and maintenance.
 17. The directional thrust control system of claim 1 including a forward impeller housing section and a rear impeller housing section interconnected on a generally vertical dividing line, said forward impeller housing section having a rear central opening and an impeller mounting means located inwardly from said dividing line, a pump means being supported within said forward impeller housing section and having an impeller attachment means and a wear ring means accessible directly through said opening of said forward housing section, whereby removal of said rear impeller housing section permits direct access thereto for servicing and maintenance of the impeller and wear means ring.
 18. The directional thrust control system of claim 17 wherein said rear impeller-nozzle housing section includes a centrally located stator vane support member defining the inner wall of the jet passageways and having an outer jet passageway wall and having an outer housing wall spaced from outer jet passageway wall, said impeller bowl member having a generally cylindrical vertical recess in the outermost portion thereof, said control means including a cylindrical rotor portion rotatably mounted within said cylindrical recess and of a diameter generally to define a continuation of the passageway, said control means including a planar wall portion extending radially from the supporting rotor portion, a steering mechanism including a means coupled to the rotor for selectively pivoting of said planar wall portion from a centrally located position with respect to said passageways to effect diverting of said jet streams for steering, a pair of vertically extending reverse jet channels formed in the housing adjacent the terminal end of said passageways and having said channels being formed between the outer jet passageway walls and the outer wall of the housing and having corresponding openings in the corresponding jet passageways in the outer jet passageway walls, a valve member having a planar valve wall corresponding to the opening to said reverse jet channels, said valve members being rotatably mounted between a position with said planar valve wall aligned with the passageway and forming a part of the passageway wall and a second position normal to said passageway and extending across the passageway adjacent the downstream end of said channel to divert the jet into said reverse channel, a pair of reverse nozzles connected in communication with the lower end of said channels and being angularly oriented to direct the reverse jets toward each other and toward the forward end of the propulsion unit, a reverse control member located centrally of said nozzles and constructed to redirect said inwardly directed jets as a pair of parallel forwardly-directed jets, said reverse control member being rotatable to correspondingly divert one of said jets to one side while allowing essentially unrestricted flow of said predirected opposite jet thereby effecting steering of the propulsion means in a reverse motion direction.
 19. The directional thrust control system wherein a coupling means connects said valve means, a directional control lever coupled to said coupling means for selectively positioning of said valve means between a full open and a full closed position, said directional control means including a linkage extending through said housing sections to maintain complete enclosure of said directional control mechanism, a rotor control linkage disposed within said housing sections and connected to a directional control lever means extending through said rear housing impeller section to maintain enclosure of said rotor control linkage.
 20. The directional thrust control system of claim 6 wherein internal reverse jet chamber means extending vertically of the housing alOng the jet passageways and opening to said two jet passageways upstream of said rudder, the lower end of said housing having reverse nozzle means communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber means, a valve means defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageways adjacent the control means, said valve means being selectively positioned to define a portion of said passageways for establishing a forward drive and being rotatable into said jet passageways to the downstream end of said wall portion of said jet passageways to redirect said jets laterally into communication with said chamber means to thereby effect a reverse jet flow with a corresponding reverse thrust.
 21. The directional thrust control system of claim 20 wherein said reverse nozzle means including a pair of nozzles establishing angularly oriented reverse jets directed toward each other along predetermined paths, a reverse control means located between a first position between said reverse jets for redirecting said jets as a pair of parallel jets and a second position deflecting one of said reverse jets and allowing the opposite reverse jets to move along said pre-direction path, said reverse control means having a control rotor and a planar projecting wall member joined to the rotor by curved walls for smoothly directing of said jets.
 22. The thrust control system of claim 21 wherein reverse nozzle means includes an inverted well in the lower housing wall with an inclined forward wall, said control means including a planar portion having an edge corresponding to and closely spaced to the upper wall of the inverted well.
 23. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 6 wherein said directional control means includes a hollow member having an internal chamber extending vertically of the housing and having a rear opening located generally between said two jet passageways, the lower end of said housing having reverse nozzle means communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber, a valve means located to the opposite sides of said directional control means and defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageway adjacent the control means, said valve means being selectively positioned to define a wall of said passageways for establishing a forward drive and being rotatable into said jet passageways to the downstream of said wall portion of said jet passageways to redirect said jets laterally into communication with said hollow member to thereby effect a reverse jet flow with a corresponding reverse thrust.
 24. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control means has a rotor with said rear opening formed in the back wall thereof, the lower nozzle means having a pair of oppositely-directed nozzles communicating with the lower end of said internal chamber, said valve means being located to the opposite sides of said rotor and defining a movable wall portion of said jet passageway adjacent the rotor, a reverse directional control member rotatably journaled between said pair of nozzles for controlling the relative direction of said reverse jets.
 25. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 6 including a pair of reverse jet channel members pivotally mounted to said housing section and including an inner wall defining the terminal portion of said jet passageways, said reverse channel members each being generally a J-shaped member and extending outwardly with the hook portion extending inwardly and defining an inner wall of one of said jet passageways opposite the control means, said reverse jet channel being pivotally mounted to the housing section and selectively pivoted inwardly into said jet passageway whereby to selectively divert the corresponding jet into the channel, a reverse nozzle connected to the lower end of the housing section and communicating with the said reverse jet channel whereby a reverse jet is established in accordance with the pivotal movement of the reverse jet channel position.
 26. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 25 wherein said pairS of reverse jet channel members are pivotally mounted to said housing section by generally flexible straplike members to permit rotational and lateral movement of said reverse channel members in the passageways with inner walls moving into engagement with the control means.
 27. The propulsion apparatus of claim 26 having reverse angularly opposing nozzles connected to the lower end of the housing section and communicating with the said reverse jet channel members whereby a pair of reverse jets are established in accordance with the movement of the reverse jet channel members, a reverse control member located centrally of said nozzles to selectively redirect said reverse jets. 